TECHTECH ACTIONACTION ARKANSASARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY TECH UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ALUMNIMAGAZINE MAGAZINE FALL 2014 SPRING 2014 A NEW ERA DR. ROBIN E. BOWEN ELECTED 12TH PRESIDENT OF ARKANSAS TECH The Pursuit of Our Potential As I begin my tenure at Arkansas Tech University, the emotions smooth transition into this new from the day I was introduced to the Tech Family as president - phase of life. humility and honor - still prevail. Arkansas Tech strives to nurture I am humbled because I understand the seriousness of the a culture of fairness, honesty responsibility that the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees has and professionalism in which we bestowed upon me. We receive students who are eager to learn celebrate the ways we are different and improve the circumstances in which they and their families and the ways we are the same. By live. Our task is to produce graduates who achieve their goals, and living in and contributing to this in so doing, improve the condition of our state and our region. environment, our students will be a critical component in bringing about positive, transformational change in the world around them. I am honored because of the esteem in which Arkansas Tech is held around our state, our region and our nation. It is a reputation I look forward to meeting, listening to and learning from our built by generations of outstanding students, faculty, staff, alumni alumni and friends over the coming weeks, months and years. The and friends of the university. achievements of the past two decades have prepared Arkansas Tech for greatness. Join us as we pursue and embrace that destiny Arkansas Tech is especially grateful for the contributions of its 11th together. president, Dr. Robert C. Brown, and his wife, Jill. They transformed our university during their 21-year tenure, and I promise I will Sincerely, do everything within my power to continue that tradition of excellence. On a personal level, I am thankful for the Browns’ graciousness in providing their assistance to me and my family - my husband, Dr. Robin E. Bowen Doug, and our children, Brock, Alexa, and Brynn - as we make a President Alumni Association Board of Directors President: Todd Sweeden ‘76 President-Elect: Truman Hill ‘70 Jim Higgs ‘73 12/14 Jared Wood ‘97 12/14 Melissa Owens Steeves ‘07 12/15 Brad McBride ‘10 12/16 Truman Hill ‘70 12/14 Leila Bean Alston ‘77 12/15 Kendall Tabor ‘89 & ‘92 12/15 Ryan Ritchie ‘03 12/16 Sarah Beth Phillips ‘06 12/14 Susan McIntyre Dunn ‘83 12/15 Adam Anderson ‘11 12/16 Ross White ‘08 & ‘12 12/16 Joshua Ray ‘06 12/14 Cody Hill ‘07 12/15 Larry Brown ‘10 12/16 Jimmy Rofkahr, Ozark Campus Rep. Sandy Smith ‘86 12/14 Sherry Nordin Polsgrove ‘81 12/15 Alyssa McTeer Carter ‘02 12/16 Matthew White ‘06 12/14 Dustin Parsons ‘10 12/15 Denise Clayton ‘85 12/16 Cara Hammond Witherspoon ‘78 12/14 Justin Price ‘01 12/15 Steve Kesner ‘77 12/16 Tech Action, Volume 50, No. 2. Arkansas Tech University Alumni Association, Alumni House, Russellville, AR 72801 Tech Action is published quarterly by the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association, Director of Alumni Relations Editorial Committee Cover Photograph 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, & Tech Loyalty Fund Kelly Davis, Jayne Jones, Liz Chrisman AR 72801. It is sent to alumni, Kelly Davis Julie Nebben Morgan, Susie parents, friends and faculty/staff of Nicholson, Sam Strasner Contributing Photographers Arkansas Tech University. We welcome Coordinator of Young Alumni Liz Chrisman, Tim Carr, manuscripts and photographs from & Student Philanthropy Publications/Creative Services Alex Duvall our readers. Please include a self- Alison Parks Taylor Felisha Weaver addressed, stamped envelope if you Coordinator of Alumni E-mail address would like your originals returned. Communications & Events Director of New Media [email protected] Parents, if your son or daughter Aaron Jones Carrie Harris Phillips attended Tech and is no longer living Web site at this address, please notify our office Alumni Office Administrative Assistant Sports Information Director www.techties.atu.edu of his or her new address. Address Terry Holland-Finley Paul Smith updates can be submitted to the Arkansas Tech Office of Alumni Services by calling (479) 968-0242 or by sending e-mail to [email protected]. FALL 2014 02 TECH ACTION Homecoming Scheduled for October 31-November 1 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Bookstore Open *Purchase your green & gold Tech gear while you are on campus. 9 a.m. Homecoming Classic Golf Tournament Chamberlyne Country Club 9 a.m. Check-in and Brunch 10:15 a.m. Official Welcome 10:30 a.m. Shotgun Start Noon Ladies ‘Champagne Bingo’ Luncheon Lake Point Hickory Lodge 6:30 p.m. Hall of Distinction Reunion Dinner (invitation only) Lake Point Conference Center 7:30 p.m. Homecoming Parade Arkansas Tech Campus 8 p.m. Alumni & Friends Reception Lake Point Conference Center SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 9 a.m. Hindsman Players Breakfast Young Ballroom 10 a.m. T-Club Meeting Young Ballroom 10 a.m. 1950s and 1960s Reunion Tomlinson Library Noon - 3 p.m. Reunion Groups at Centennial Plaza: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Bookstore Open Greek Life, Class of 1964, T-Club, 1950s & W.O. Young Building 1960s, Alumni Chapters, Young Alumni (2004-2014), Faculty, Staff, and Retirees, 11 a.m. Faculty, Staff and Retirees Reception College of Business (ENACTUS (SIFE)), Baswell Techionery 2nd Floor Dean’s Leadership Cabinet, and accounting 11 a.m. Alumni Gold Luncheon & marketing club alumni), The Parks, Doc Bryan Room 242 Recreation, and Hospitality Administration *Join the Class of 1964 for their 50 year Department, Agriculture class reunion. 1:30 p.m. Stadium bookstore opens 11:00 a.m. - Noon Greek Life Caraway Unveiling 2:30 p.m. Pre-game Activities Caraway Hall Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field Noon - 3 p.m. Party at the Plaza 3 p.m. Wonder Boys vs. East Central Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field FALL 2014 ALUMNI NEWS 03 Dr. Bowen Elected 12th President of Arkansas Tech University grandparents or been homeless,” said DR. ROBIN BOWEN MAKES Bowen. “That’s something as I reflect back HISTORY AS STATE’S FIRST on my life, I don’t think I ever cognitively FEMALE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC, thought about it at the time…we were poor FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION but I always knew that I was loved. I never Early on, life taught the 12th president of felt poor because we were around people Arkansas Tech University how far education, that were poorer, so I thought we were just perseverance and love can carry a person. like everybody else or fortunate compared to others. Dr. Robin E. Bowen grew up along famed Route 66 on the state line between Joplin, “As I got older I realized that even if you Mo., and Galena, Kan. Her father, Eugene love someone, you couldn’t necessarily Hayes, and grandfather, William Hayes, depend on that person to provide for you,” operated a service station there. Bowen continued Bowen. “I needed to be able to and her family lived in a three-room house provide for myself and my family. I think adjacent to the family business. Indoor that was a driving force in my life…to be plumbing arrived when she was 7 after her able to support myself and my family if dad added on a fourth room. something were to happen to my spouse or to someone else.” “The chair of my dissertation committee Also nearby was a plant that smelted told me, and he meant this very positively, lead. Their cattle started to die. It was the Bowen was educated in Carl Junction, that I was doing a really good job and that same story for the pigs at the neighbor’s Mo., from elementary school through one day I could be a dean,” said Bowen. “I farm. Then the neighbor fell ill, and so did high school. She recalls Mrs. Clugston’s told him thank you very much, and we’ll see Eugene. All of them, it turned out, were sociology classes and Mr. Damon’s art how far I can go. It’s funny to look back now victims of lead poisoning. classes at Carl Junction High School as and see how far we have come.” being among her favorites. Bowen’s father, who was a veteran of the Bowen has worked in administration at Korean Conflict, became disabled. They She was also a feature twirler with the Rockhurst University (Mo.), where she might have lost everything, except for a marching band, and all the while she was was dean of the School of Graduate and decision her mother had made five years working and saving money for college. Professional Studies and associate dean of earlier. Bowen earned her Bachelor of Science the College of Arts and Sciences; Washburn Judy Hayes knew she wanted to be a degree in occupational therapy from the University (Kan.), where she was vice teacher, so she had enrolled at nearby University of Kansas and a Master of president for academic affairs; Donnelly Joplin Junior College (now known as Science degree in rehabilitation counseling College (Kan.), where she was interim Missouri Southern State University) from the University of Arkansas. She went provost and vice president for academic when her daughter was 2. Judy earned an on to spend the first 14 years of her career affairs; and most recently at Fitchburg State associate’s degree there, took one year off in higher education as a professor. University (Mass.), where she was hired as to learn how to drive and went on to earn vice president for academic affairs in 2011.